Repository: Freie Universität Berlin, Math Department

Formula Feeding Predisposes Neonatal Piglets to Clostridium difficile Gut Infection

Grześkowiak, Łukasz and Martínez-Vallespín, Beatriz and Dadi, Temesgen H and Radloff, Judith and Amasheh, Salah and Heinsen, Femke-Anouska and Franke, Andre and Reinert, Knut and Vahjen, Wilfried and Zentek, Jürgen and Pieper, Robert (2018) Formula Feeding Predisposes Neonatal Piglets to Clostridium difficile Gut Infection. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 217 (9). pp. 1442-1452. ISSN 0022-1899

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jix567

Abstract

Spontaneous outbreaks of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) occur in neonatal piglets, but the predisposing factors are largely not known. To study the conditions for C. difficile colonization and CDI development, 48 neonatal piglets were moved into isolators, fed bovine milk–based formula, and infected with C. difficile 078. Analyses included clinical scoring; measurement of the fecal C. difficile burden, toxin B level, and calprotectin level; and postmortem histopathological analysis of colon specimens. Controls were noninfected suckling piglets. Fecal specimens from suckling piglets, formula-fed piglets, and formula-fed, C. difficile–infected piglets were used for metagenomics analysis. High background levels of C. difficile and toxin were detected in formula-fed piglets prior to infection, while suckling piglets carried about 3-fold less C. difficile, and toxin was not detected. Toxin level in C. difficile–challenged animals correlated positively with C. difficile and calprotectin levels. Postmortem signs of CDI were absent in suckling piglets, whereas mesocolonic edema and gas-filled distal small intestines and ceca, cellular damage, and reduced expression of claudins were associated with animals from the challenge trials. Microbiota in formula-fed piglets was enriched with Escherichia, Shigella, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Ruminococcus species. Formula-fed piglets were predisposed to C. difficile colonization earlier as compared to suckling piglets. Infection with a hypervirulent C. difficile ribotype did not aggravate the symptoms of infection. Sow-offspring association and consumption of porcine milk during early life may be crucial for the control of C. difficile expansion in piglets.

Item Type:Article
Subjects:Mathematical and Computer Sciences > Computer Science
Divisions:Department of Mathematics and Computer Science > Institute of Computer Science > Algorithmic Bioinformatics Group
ID Code:2283
Deposited By: Anja Kasseckert
Deposited On:08 Nov 2018 11:52
Last Modified:08 Nov 2018 11:52

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